The Kansas City Royals are no strangers to taking calculated risks with their pitching staff, and they’ve doubled down on that philosophy once again. Just days into spring training, the Royals added another veteran arm to the mix - John Means, the former Orioles lefty who’s looking to reboot his career after a string of injuries.
Kansas City signed Means to a two-year minor league deal, placing him on the Triple-A Omaha roster for now. But let’s be clear: this is a long-term play.
Means, 32, is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in December, and the odds of him seeing game action in 2026 - at any level - are slim. That’s part of the reason the Royals gave him a two-year runway.
They’re betting on what he could be in 2027, not what he can give them right now.
It’s a familiar strategy for this front office. The Royals have made a habit of taking flyers on pitchers coming off significant injuries, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
Just last year, they tried a similar approach with Kyle Wright, a former 21-game winner who never made it back to the majors before hitting free agency. He’s now with the Cubs.
So why take the gamble on Means?
When healthy, Means has shown he can be a solid mid-rotation piece. He owns a career 3.68 ERA over 78 big league games - a small sample, yes, but a meaningful one.
His command has always been a strength, with a career walk rate of just 1.77 BB/9 and a 4.9% walk percentage. He was an All-Star in 2019, winning 12 games and finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting that season.
That version of Means - the one with pinpoint control and an ability to eat innings - is exactly the kind of pitcher the Royals would love to have anchoring their rotation down the road.
And that’s where the long-term vision comes into focus.
Right now, the Royals’ rotation is crowded. They’ve got arms - maybe even too many.
But that depth could evaporate quickly. Kris Bubic is a potential trade chip, especially if the club tries to add a bat before Opening Day.
He’s also a free agent after the season. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo are under contract through 2027, but both have club options for 2028 and could become attractive trade targets if Kansas City falls out of the playoff race by the deadline.
Which brings us back to Means. If he’s healthy by 2027, he could be a stabilizing presence in a rotation that might look very different by then. That’s the upside the Royals are chasing - a low-risk, high-reward arm who could provide real value when the team might need it most.
Of course, that’s a big “if.” Means has pitched just 10 major league games since 2022, with only 13 minor league appearances over the past two seasons.
Two Tommy John surgeries and now a torn Achilles have stalled what once looked like a promising career. The road back is long, and there are no guarantees.
But for a team like Kansas City, which has to be creative in how it builds its roster, this is the kind of move that makes sense. It doesn’t cost much.
It doesn’t block any prospects. And if it hits, it could pay off in a big way.
So while John Means may not take the mound at Kauffman Stadium this year, don’t forget about him. The Royals certainly haven’t. They’re playing the long game - and they’re hoping this one pays off.